Hello everyone!

My last post was months ago, but I haven’t stopped working on the project.

On the contrary, we’ve all been very busy!

I’d like to take this opportunity to give you some updates.

  1. - The Agawam Advertiser published an article about the trip, going in to more detail about what was done while we were there and what we hope to accomplish in the future. I’ve been looking for a link on the internet, but it’s just a small town paper and I don’t believe they post their articles online (at least not yet). I’m still looking in to it, but the article was very nice. I might scan a copy of it onto the computer and post it that way.
  2. - With a donation of $500, the school was able to produce over 100 “crafts” from their skills center. Nyillan brought the crafts back to the United States, and members of our team have been selling them at different events. Currently over $1,000 has been made from the $500 contribution. (Just to give you an idea of the potential this school has to become self-sustaining.)
  3. - Along with the crafts Nyillan brought back, she also brought back a bag of gifts for me from the same girl, Fatou, who made me a shirt and presented it to me on our last day in Barra Village. The gifts range from beautiful bags, napkins, handkerchiefs, water bottle holders, and a wrap skirt. Collectively the gifts are worth well over $100 if we were to sell them. I can’t express how amazing it is to have made such an impact on even one persons life, that they would spend so many hours making such beautiful gifts for me. It’s really heart warming, and while I already knew that this project would have such a large effect on my life, this nicely reiterates that.
  4. - I presented a rough cut of the documentary in early May to a select group of faculty members. They provided me with excellent feedback to help improve the film and strengthen the message. We’re still planning on having the premier in mid to late September, so be on the look out for an announcement. The event WILL be free and open to the public and there will be the opportunity to purchase the film, the sound track, the children’s songs, and possibly some hand made items directly from the school. And remember, 100% of the proceeds go directly to Sajuka.
  5. - Sorry I’ve been away so long. Things have been crazy lately. I’m hoping to post some pictures of the gifts that Fatou made for me, just to give you a general idea of the potential of the skills center of the school. And keep in mind all of this is made BY HAND and without electricity, and are, essentially, one of a kind items. Impressive, especially when you consider how most everything we buy these days is mass-produced on machines. Think about it.

Come Back Soon!

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